The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has set conditions for Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to support his presidential bid in 2023.
National President of AYCF, Yerima Shettima said the North would study his relationship with Nigerians from other regions before deciding to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
The willingness of the former Lagos State governor to maintain good ties with other regions, according to the AYCF chief, would be a deciding factor for the North.
He told newsmen that: “If Tinubu decides to contest, there is a way we will answer him. If he decides to contest, we will certainly look at his relationship with other Nigerians outside the Southwest, how fair has he been we other Nigerians outside the Southwest.
“How far has he been able to maintain good relationship outside the Southwest, What has he been able to do to give back to other Nigerians outside his region. We will discuss it, time will tell.”
There has been speculation that the former governor of Lagos State will run for president in 2023.
Tinubu has not announced his intention to run for president, despite rumors and pressure from some Nigerians.
Recently, the APC National Leader denied opening a presidential campaign office in Abuja.
Tinubu had said he was focused on helping President Muhammadu Buhari achieve his mandate.
A few weeks ago, there were reports of him using fronts to distribute 10,000 bags of rice in the North.
The bags of rice distributed to Internally Displaced People, IDPs, in Borno State had his photograph on them.
Distancing himself from the distribution, Tinubu stressed that he had no knowledge of such.
However, he commended those behind the distribution of the rice